Yes, we’ve all grown to rely on our phones for a LOT! And now we’re at a stage where people have become comfortable with, and even reliant upon, shopping by phone. Perhaps you’ve noticed that shopping by phone gets easier and more intuitive by the day. How fun it must be for designers and developers to constantly look for innovative ways to improve digital storefronts for mobile users! Here’s a glimpse of several mobile design trends specific to e-commerce:

Hidden Navigation Options

When designing e-commerce sites for optimal use on mobile platforms, many experts incorporate what’s known as the navigation drawer. This keeps certain elements of the site hidden until needed, for example, the navigation bar. Hidden navigation options save space enabling retailers to maximize the available space on a mobile screen.

Incorporation of Chatbots

In 2017 and beyond, we can also expect to see more e-commerce sites designed to include chatbots. These automated programs allow customers to interact with them via text or voice through platforms like Facebook Messenger. Analysts say chatbots can help web-based businesses manage some of their customer-related concerns without being completely dependent on call centers. In the design world, chatbots are sometimes also referred to as conversational interfaces.

Adaptive and Responsive Typography

Experts think adaptive and responsive typography will be trends frequently seen in 2017. That special kind of typography could shift as a person moves through a mobile website, aiming to give as much clarity and readability as possible. Font types, space between lines and stylistic techniques that highlight headlines are all some of the possibilities present within adaptive technology.

An adaptive layout is the more limited of two main types of adaptive technology, and it’s typically used by e-commerce businesses that don’t have a huge need for extremely robust mobile technology and want the content to look nice on desktop screens.

On the other hand, companies that want to make a strong impact in mobile e-commerce prefer liquid layouts. Liquid layouts constantly adapt to every possible width movement of a screen, so the typography appears consistent as people scroll and swipe.

Recognition of Gestures

Throughout 2017, designers are likely to make their mobile e-commerce sites more responsive to gestures. This will allow shoppers to do things more efficiently by simply moving their fingers in certain ways across the touchscreens of their tablets or phones.

Speed is an important element within eCommerce browsing and transactions, especially because if people are shopping on their phones, they may be doing so while engaged in other activities. That would mean they don’t want to spend any more time than necessary finding and purchasing the things they can’t wait to own.

Greater Prevalence of Touch ID Technology

Touch ID technology is commonly known as what’s used on some upscale devices to help people unlock those gadgets with their fingerprints. However, some major eCommerce providers simplify the payment process with Touch ID technology, a trend that’s likely to continue.

Now you’re familiar with some of the leading mobile design trends in eCommerce. Soon, they may become staples of mobile shopping.